Body support



y 13, 1958 H. M. SCOTT 2,834,032

BODY SUPPORT Filed July 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR HENRY M.8007' T ATTORNEY y 13, 1958 H. M. S COTT 2,834,032

BODY SUPPORT Filed y I956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H a. a

INVENTOR HENRY M. S0077 ATTORNEY United States BODY SUPPORT Application.iuiy 10, 1956, Serial No. 596,934

8 Claims. (Ci. -327) This invehtion relates to improvements in bodysupports and more particularly to a light weight body support which maybe easily adjusted by the user to support portions of the body of theuser throughout a wide range of different positions.

In many instances invalids and convalescents while not completelybedridden are immobilized to the degree that they can only leave theirbeds at infrequent instances and then in some cases only when assistedby an attendant. Such individuals, however, may be permitted to restwith portions of their bodies positioned differently from body portionpositions established when the individuals are lying in prone positions.The provision of an arrangement to permit an invalid or convalescent whois semi-immobilized to change the position of various portions of hisbody while resting not only increases his comfort but in some cases maybe necessary for his survival or complete recovery.

Conventional hospital beds are constructed in such a manner as to permitadjustment to different angular positions of the back supporting portionand the thigh and leg supporting portions of the mattress. Theseadjustments cannot be made by a patient when occupying the bed, and thepatient must either leave the bed or obtain the assistance of anattendant when he desires a change in the positions of the supportingportions of the mattress. Recently, some hospital beds have beenequipped with power driven devices operable by the patient whenoccupying the bed for adjusting the back, thigh and leg supportingportions of the mattress. This type of hospital bed eliminates thenecessity of an attendant when the patient wishes to changes his restingposition but does not constitute a practical body support forsemi-immobilized invalids or convalescents who are generally nothospitalized. This is so since power adjustable hospital beds, as wellas conventional hospital beds, are relatively expensive and for thisreason their use is ordinarily not practical except in a hopsital.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel adjustablebody support, of light weight relatively inexpensive construction, whichmay be easily adjusted by the individual whose body is being supportedto position his back, thighs and legs in any one of a plurality ofdifferent positions.

In general, the present invention provides an adjustable body supportcomprising articulated back, seat, thigh and leg supporting portionswith means operable under control of the individual whose body is beingsupported to adjust the various body supporting portions to any relativeposition throughout a wide range of positions and to lock the bodysupporting portions in their adjusted position. In accordance with oneembodiment of the invention, the adjustable body support is designed torest upon a supporting surface, such as the surface of a bed, while inanother embodiment the adjustable body support is provided withsupporting means so that it may be used independently of a bed such asupon the ground or upon the floor of a building or sundeck. Although thead-.

atentO ice justable body support provided by the present inven tion hasparticular use for invalids or convalescents who are semi-immobilized itwill be appreciated that the present invention has utility in theconstruction of body supports for general use, such as lawn and beachchairs.

Other objects and features of the present invention will appear morefully from the following detailed description considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments ofthe invention. It is to be expressly understood however that thedrawings are designed for purposes of illustration only and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention, reference for the latterpurpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable body support constructedin accordance with one embodiment 'of the present invention, theadjustable body support being shown positioned on abed;

Figure 2 is'a view in side elevation of the adjustable body supportshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the adjustable body support shown in Figure1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one form ofadjusting and locking device provided by the present invention;

Figure 5 is a View in side elevation of an adjustable body supportconstructed in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a portion of the adjustable bodysupport shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an adjustable body support constructedin accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a detail of theadjustable body support shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view partially in phantom illustrating another form ofadjusting and locking device provided by the present invention, and

Figure 10 is a partially exploded view of the adjusting and lockingdevice shown in Figure 9.

With reference more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,an adjustable body support constructed in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention is shown therein including a back rest portion10, a seat or base portion 11 and a thigh and leg rest portion 12, thelatter portion including a thigh rest portion 13 and a leg rest portion14. The seat or base portion 12 includes an open rectangular frame 15,preferably formed of light weight tubular material, upon which isattached a cover 16 extending substantially across the open area definedby the rectangular frame. The cover 16 may be attached to the sides ofthe rectangular frame by any, suitable means and may be formed of asingle piece of fabric, such as canvas or plastic material, or maycomprise interwoven webs of such material. portion 11 comprises anelongated U-shapedframe 17 including a closed end 18 and elongatedparallel sides, 19 and 20 having terminating ends 21 and 22,respectively. The frame 17 is preferably constructed of light weighttubular material of the type used in forming the seat frame 15 andsupports a cover 23 attached to the end and sides of the frame andextending substantially across the area defined by the frame with anunsupported transverse edge 24 of the cover being spaced from theterminating ends 21 and 22 of the sides. The cover 23 may be constructedof canvas or plastic fabric material in a manner similar to the seatcover 16. The free ends 21 and 22 of the sides of the frame 17 arepivotally joined to the seat frame 15 contiguous to one of its ends tomount the back portion for-swinging movement relative to the seat pot-The back rest tion. The frame 17 may be shaped with its ends 22 and 23transversely spaced sufiiciently to lie outside respective sides of theseat frame 15, as shown in the drawings. The

pivotal connections between the ends 21 and 22 andthe: seat frame may beformed by pins- 25- passing through suitable openings formed adjacentthe terminatingsends of the sides 19 and 20 and in the seatframe, the:pinsmay be formed with threaded ends adapted to cooperate with nuts toprovide a permanent connectionor rivets may be leg portion 14. The legframe 28 includes a closedend 29 and parallel sides 3%) and 31terminating infree' ends 32 and 33, respectively. The free ends 32 and33 are pivotally connected, by means ofpivot members 34, to ends 35 and36 of the elongated members 26 and 27 to mount the thigh portion and theleg portion for relative swinging movement, while opposite ends 37 and38 of the elongated members 26 and 27, respectively, are pivotallyconnected, by means of pivot members 35 to thesides of the seat frame15, incontiguous relation with its end opposite the end to which theback frame 17 is pivotally attached, to mount the thigh portion forswinging movement relative to the seat portion. It will be apparent thatleg frame 28 of leg rest portion 1 4 acts as a supporting member forthigh rest portion 13-. The leg frame 28 supports a fabric covering 46substantially completely extending over the area defining by the frameand having an unsupported transverse edge 41 spaced inwardly from thefree ends 32 and 33 of the sides and 31 and the elongated members 26 and27 support a fabric covering 42 having unsupported transverse edges 43and 44 located inwardly of the terminating ends 34, and 37, 38 of themembers, respectively. The fabric coverings and 42 may comprise canvasor plastic material similar to the covering 16 and 23, and the elongatedmembers 26 and 27 and the frame 2 8 may be constructed of light weighttubular material. Preferably, the U- shaped frame 28 of the leg portion14 is located inside the elongated members 26 and 27, and the elongatedmembers are located outside the seat frame. The open ends of the tubularmembers forming the frames may be provided with a suitable closure, suchas 45 shown in Figure 4.

The seat portion 11 is adapted to lie flat upon a supporting surface,such as upon the surface of a mattress supported by a bed 51 as shown inFigure l, and the present invention provides novel means, operable by anindividual While being supported by the body support, for positioningthe back rest portion 10 and the thigh and leg rest portion 12atdifferent angular positions with respect to the seat portion 11. Theforegoing means in cludes a back portion supporting member 55 in theform of a substantially U-shaped member which may be constructed oflight weight tubular material to include a closed end 56 and parallelsides 57 and 58 terminating in free ends 59 and 60, respectively. Thesides 57 and 58 are pivotally joined adjacent their ends 59 and60, bymeans of pivot members 61, to the sides 19 and 20 of the back portionframe 17 at points thereof equally spaced bers, in the form of bead-typechains 62 and 63 are each connected at one end to the end 56 of the backportion supporting member 55 at points 64 and 65, and are adjustablyattachable to the body support in the region of the seat portion 11 bymeans of attaching or holding devices 66 and 67, respectively. Althoughthe elongated flexible members 62 and 63 are shown as bead-type chains,it is to be expressly understood as will appear more fully below thatthe elongated flexible members may be provided in The holes 68 and 69are located adjacent the end 22 of bers 61 above the supporting surface.

the' side in the region of the seat portion 11 so that the attachingdevices may be conveniently operated by an individual while utilizingthe body support. The hole 63 communicates with an outwardly displaced:slot 70 having a width less than the diameter of the holes 68 and 69.The ball-type chain 63 includes a plurality of balls 71 joined togetherby connecting members or links 72 of reduced cross-sectional area. Theholes 63 and 69 are of a diameter greater than the diameter of the balls71 andtthe width of the slot 20 is less thanthediameter of the balls 71so that the chain 63 may be moved through the. openings 68 and. 69relative to the member 26 or may be locked onto the member 20 by movingone of the connecting links 72 into the slot 76- with adjacent balls.being located internally and externally of the wall forming the slot.With the foregoing arrangement, the angular position of the back restportion 16 relative to the seat portion 1-1 is a function of theeffective length of the elongated flexible members 62 and 63, that is,the length of the elongated flexible members measured between the closedend 56 of the back portion: supporting member 55 and the attachingdevices 66 and 67. The angular position of the back rest portion 10 maybe adjusted by pulling on the free ends 73 and 74 of the elongatedmembers to attain their desired effective length, and may be locked inthe adjusted position by moving into the slot 70 the adjacent connectinglink of the chains.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention stop meansare associated with the back rest portion 10 for limiting swingingmovement of the back rest portion 10 in a direction away from the thighand leg portion 12 when the seat portion 11 is positioned on asupporting surface and space the ends 59 and 69 of the back portionsupporting member 55 above a plane passing through the ends 21 and 22 ofthe back portion frame 17 and the closed end 56 of the back portionsupporting member 55. The stop means comprises an upwardly extendingportion 75 formed in the end 56 of the back portion supporting member55. The length of the sides 57 and 58 of the back portion supportingmember 55 is substantially equal to the length of the sides 19 and 20 ofthe frame 17 measured between the pivot members 61 and. the closed end18 so that upon downward movement of the back portion the closed end 18of the back portion contacts the upwardly extending portion 75 andspaces the pivot mem- With this arrangement, as shown more clearly inFigure 2, the axis of the articulated connections between the backportion 19 and the back portion supporting member 55 is displaced abovethe elongated flexible members 62 and 63 to provide a moment arm toinsure relatively easy adjustment of the back rest portion irrespectiveof its position relative to the seat portion. 1

The angular position of the thigh and leg portion 12 relative to theseat portion 11 is controlled by a pair of elongated flexible members 86and 81 also shown in the form of ball-type chains. One end of each ofthe chains and 81 is connected to the end 29 of the leg frame 23 atpoints 82 and 33, respectively, and the chains are adjustably secured tothe body support in the region of the seat portion 11 by means ofattaching devices 34 and 85. The attaching devices 84 and 55 maybeconstructed in a manner: similar to the attaching devices 6.7 shown inFigure-4. With this arrangement the angular position of the thighportion 13 and the leg portion 14 is .a function of the effective lengthof the elongated members 80 and 81, and their effective length of theelongated members may be readily adjusted and then positively maintainedby means of the attaching devices 84 and 85 in the manner describedabove. The elongated members 80 and 81 may be provided with engagingmembers 86 and 87, respectively. Stop means is also associated with thethigh and leg portion 12 to space the axis of the articulatedconnections between the ends of the leg frame 28 and the elongatedmembers an and 27 above a pla ie passing through the end 29 of the legframe 28 and the other ends 37 and 33 of the elongated members when seatportion 11 and the end 2% of the leg sub-portion 1d rests upon asupporting surface. The stop means includes a downwardly dependingU-shaped member 38 having relatively short sides pivotally secured tothe thigh and leg portion 12 by the pivot members 34 to position theclosed end of the member 88 transversely of the thigh and leg portion.As shown in Figure 2, the stop member 88 is adapted to contact thesupporting surface and limit downward movement of the members 26 and 27and thus space the articulated joint between thigh sub-portion 13 andthe leg sub-portion 14 above the plane of the elongated members 89 and81 to insure easy adjustment of the thigh and leg portion 12.

The body support shown in Figure 5 is provided with means for spacingthe fabric covering 16 of the seat portion from the supporting surface.A body support constructed according to this embodiment of the inventionis adaptable for use on a relatively hard supporting surface, such as asundeck, or upon the ground. As shown, the seat or base portion 11includes a frame 90 having a pair of spaced parallel sides 91 and 92 andvertical supports 93, 94 and 95, respectively, joined to the ends of theparallel sides, the vertical supports 93 and 95 being joined by atransverse member 97 and the vertical supports 94 and 96 being joined bya transverse member 98. The articulated ends of the back rest portion 1%and of the elongated members 26 and 27 of the thigh rest portion 13 arejoined adjacent opposite ends of the side members 91 and 92 whichsupport a fabric covering 99, while the transverse members 97 and 98 areadapted to contact the supporting surface upon which the body supportrests. With this arrangement the fabric covering 99 is spaced from thesupporting surface by a distance corresponding to the height of thevertical supporting members 93, 5%, g5 and )6. The stop means may bemodified to provide adequate spacing between the supporting surface andthe joints of the back rest portion and the back portion supportingmember 55 and the thigh and leg portions. This may be accomplished byextending the height of the raised portion 75 of the supporting member55 and the depth of the U-shaped member 83.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7 different means areprovided for adjusting and maintaining the angular position of the backrest portion 19 and of the thigh and leg rest portion 12 relative to theseat portion 11. As shown, a single elongated flexible member 1%, in theform of a belt or web, is attached at one end to the seat portion 11 onone side of the seat portion adjacent its end to which a back restportion Iii is pivotally attached at point li /1. The belt 1% passesthrough a supporting device 13-2 attached to the closed end 56 of theback portion supporting member 55 and then through an attaching device1% secured to the same end of the seat portion but on its other side.The supporting device 102, shown in detail in Figure 8, includes a beltsupporting member 1 34 having a portion 1% for slidably supporting thebelt spaced from an attaching portion 1% by side portions 187 and Theattaching portion 1% is pivotally attached to the side 56 of the backportion supporting member 55 by means of a pin in). The attaching orholding device 1G3 may be of any suitable construction adapted forpositively securing a strap or web at different positions along itslength. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the attaching device may include aU-shaped body member 11% having a bottom portion 111 and upwardlydisposed side walls 112 and 113. The body member 110 is pivotallymounted on the seat frame 15 by means of a pivot bolt 114 passingthrough the bottom portion 111 and through a portion of the tubularmember forming the seat frame, stabilizing blocks 115 and 116 maysurround the seat frame 15 in the region of the pivot bolt 14 tostrengthen the assemblage. A clamping device 117 having a curvedclamping surface 113 provided with serrations 119 and an operatinghandle is positioned between the sides 112 and 113 of the body member11! and is pivotally mounted on the body member by means of a transversepin 121 passing through openings 126 and 127 in the side walls andthrough a bore 130 in the clamping device. The member 117 ineludes anoff-set upper surface 122 carrying a spring 123 positioned to normallycause the member 117 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about thepin 121, the ends 124 and 125 of the spring being turned inwardly forentry into openings 126 and 127 provided in the ends of the side walls112 and 113. As shown in Figure 9,

" any force tending to move the belt relative to the attachserratedsurface away from the belt and allow its movesurrace.

- locking the angular position of the thigh rest portion 13 ing devicewill rotate the clamping device in a counter clockwise direction aboutthe pin 121 and positively secure the belt. When it is desired torelease the belt, the handle 12*? is rotated in a clockwise direction tomove the meat relative to the attaching device.

It is preferable that the belt supporting device 192 is located at amedial point of the closed end 56 of the back portion supporting memberand close to the supporting For this reason the end 56 of the backportion supporting member includes spaced upwardly extending portions131 and 132 to provide stop means for limiting rotation of the back restportion.

A similar arrangement is provided for adjusting and and the leg restportion 14. As shown, a belt 133 is connected at one end on one side ofthe seat frame 15 adjacent its other end, at point 135. The belt 133passes through a supporting device 135, constructed in a manner shown inFigure 8 and attached to the end 29 of the leg frame 2 8, and through anattaching device 136 pivotally secured to the other side of the seatframe 15, the attach-1 ing device being constructed in a manner similarto the attaching device 103.

When using the adjustable body support provided shown in Figures 1, 2and 3, the seat portion 11 is positioned on a supporting surface, suchas the mattress St) in the manner shown in Figure l, with the closedends 56' of the back portion supporting member 55 and the closed end 29of leg frame 14 also contacting the supporting surface. The back restportion 10 may then be set at any desired angular position with respectto the supporting surface by adjusting the effective length of theelongated flexible members 62 and 63 and then by locking the flexiblemembers by means of the attaching devices 66 and 67. The angularposition of the thigh rest portion 1.3 and the leg rest portion 14 maybe adjusted in a similar manner by controlling the effective length ofthe elongated flexible members 89 and 81 and by maintaining the de'sired effective length by the attaching devices and 86.

Inasmuch as the articulated connection between the back, rest portion 1%and the back portion supporting member" 14 above the supporting surfacepermits easy adjustmenti 7. of the thigh and .leg rest portion 12irrespective of its angular position with respect to the seat portion.The body support shown in Figure may be employed in a similar manner andmay be positioned on a supporting surface which would not present acomfortable support if the fabric covering of the seat portion wasdirectly supported thereby, such as upon the ground or upon a hardsurface. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7 it is onlynecessary to operate single elongated members to adjust the back portionand the thigh and leg portion, and the elongated members may be operablefrom the same side of the body support.

The present invention thus provides a novel body support includingarticulated back, seat, thigh and leg portions, the back portion havinga supporting member and the leg portion acting as the thigh portionsupporting member, which device may be easily adjusted throughout a widerange of different positions by an individual when utilizing the bodysupport without requiring the individual to leave the body support andwithout necessitating assistance. The novel means provided by thepresent invention by which the individual utilizing the body support mayadjust the back supporting portion and the thigh and leg supportingportion is designed for positive, easy operation, even when thesupporting portions are in a prone position, by the manipulation ofdevices located in the region of the seat portion in convenient reach ofthe hands of the individual for easy manipulation irrespective of theangular position of the adjustable portions of the body support. Theprovision of a body support of the foregoing character that may beconstructed of tubular frames carrying fabric coverings makes itpossible to provide a light weight, relatively inexpensive body supportof particular usefulness for invalids or convalescents who aresemi-immobilized, although it will be appreciated that the principles ofthe present invention have general utility for all individuals.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed anddescribed, it is to be expressly understood that various changes andsubstitutions may be made therein Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as well understood by those skilled in the art. Referencetherefore will be had to the appended claims for a definition of thelimits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable body support comprising a base portion adapted to beplaced on a supporting surface, a back rest portion having one endpivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movement relative tothe base portion, a back rest portion supporting member having one endpivotally joined to the back rest portion in spaced relation to the oneend of the back rest portion for swinging movement relative to the backrest portion, the back rest supporting member having another endconstructed and arranged to contact the supporting surface when the baseportion is placed on the supporting surface, a thigh rest portion havingone end pivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movementrelative to the base portion, a thigh rest portion supporting memberhaving one end pivotally joined to the thigh rest portion in spacedrelation to the one end of the thigh rest portion for swinging movementrelative to the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest support member havinganother end constructed and arranged to contact the supporting surfacewhen the base portion is placed on the supporting surface, elongatedtensional means connected to the back rest supporting member in spacedrelation to the one end for adjusting the angular position of the backrest portion relative to the base portion, and holding means carried bythe body support contiguous to the base portion for receiving andholding the elongated tensional means at desired points along the lengthof the elongated tensional means to thereby hold the back rest portionin adjusted position relative to the base portion.

2. An adjustable body support comprising a base portion adapted to beplaced on a supporting surface, a back rest portion having one endpivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movement relative tothe base portion, a back rest portion supporting member having one endpivotally joined to the back rest portion in spaced relation to the oneend of the back rest portion for swinging movement relative to the backrest portion, the back rest supporting member having another endconstructed and arranged to contact the supporting surface when the baseportion is placed on the supporting surface, a thigh rest portion havingone end pivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movementrelative to the base portion, a thigh rest portion supporting memberhaving one end pivotally joined to the thigh rest portion in spacedrelation to the one end of the thigh rest portion for swinging movementrelative to the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest support member havinganother end constructed and arranged to contact the supporting surfacewhen the base portion is placed on the supporting surface, elongatedflexible means connected to the back rest supporting member in spacedrelation to the one end for adjusting the angular position of the backrest portion relative to the base portion, and holding means carried bythe body support contiguous to the base portion for receiving andholding the elongated flexible means at desired points along the lengthof the elongated flexible means to thereby hold the back rest portion inadjusted position relative to the base portion.

3. An adjustable body support comprising a base portion adapted to beplaced on a supporting surface, a back rest portion having one endpivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movement relative tothe base portion, a back rest portion supporting member having one endpivotally joined to the back rest portion in spaced relation to the oneend of the back rest portion for swinging movement relative to the backrest portion, the back rest supporting member having another endconstructed andarranged to contact the supporting surface when the baseportion is placed on the supporting surface, a thigh rest portion havingone end pivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movementrelative to the base portion, a thigh rest portion supporting memberhaving one end pivotally joined to the thigh rest portion in spacedrelation to the one end of the thigh rest portion for swinging movementrelative to the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest support member havinganother end constructed and arranged to contact the supporting surfacewhen the base portion is placed on the supporting surface, elongatedtensional .means connected to the back rest supporting member in spacedrelation to the one end for adjusting the angular position of the backrest portion relative to the base portion, holding means carried by thebody support contiguous to the base portion for receiving and holdingthe elongated tensional means at desired points along the length of theelongated tensional means to thereby hold the back rest portion inadjusted position relative to the base portion, second elongatedtensional means connected to the thigh rest member in spaced relation tothe one end for adjusting the angular position of the thigh rest portionrelative to the base portion, and means carried by the body supportcontiguous to the base portion for receiving and locking the secondelongated tensional means at desired points along the length of thesecond elongated tensional means to thereby hold the thigh rest portionin adjusted position relative to the base portion.

4. An adjustable body support comprising a base portion adapted to beplaced on a supporting surface, a back rest portion having one endpivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movement relative tothe base portion, ,a back rest portion supporting member having one endpivotally joined to the back rest portion in spaced relation to the oneend of the back rest portion for swinging movement relative to the backrest portion, the back rest supporting member having another endconstructed and arranged to contact the supporting surface when the baseportion is placed on the supporting surface, a thigh rest portion havingone end pivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movementrelative to the base portion, a thigh rest portion supporting memberhaving one end pivotally joined to the thigh rest portion in spacedrelation to the one end of the thigh rest portion for swinging movementrelative to the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest support member havinganother end constructed and arranged to contact the supporting surfacewhen the base portion is placed on the supporting surface, elongatedflexible means connected to the back rest supporting member in spacedrelation to the one end for adjusting the angular position of the backrest portion relative to the base portion, holding means carried by thebody support contiguous to the base portion for receiving and holdingthe elongated flexible means at desired points along the length of theelongated flexible means to thereby hold the back rest portion inadjusted position relative to the base portion, second elongatedflexible means connected to the thigh rest member in spaced relation tothe one end for adjusting the angular position of the thigh rest portionrelative to the base portion, and means carried by the body supportcontiguous to the base portion for receiving and locking the secondelongated flexible means at desired points along the length of thesecond elongated flexible means to thereby hold the thi h rest portionin adjusted position relative to the base portion.

5. An adjustable body support comprising a base portion adapted to beplaced on a supporting surface, a back rest portion having one endpivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movement relative tothe base portion, a back rest portion supporting member having one endpivotally joined to the back rest portion in spaced relation to the oneend of the back rest portion for swinging movement relative to the backrest portion, the back rest supporting member having another endconstructed and arranged to contact the supporting surface when the baseportion is placed on the supporting surface, a thigh rest portion havingone end pivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movementrelative to the base portion, a thigh rest portion supporting memberhaving one end pivotally joined to the thigh rest portion in spacedrelation to the one end of the thigh rest portion for swinging movementrelative to the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest support member havinganother end constructed and arranged to contact the supporting surfacewhen the base portion is placed on the supporting surface, elongatedtensional means connected to the back rest supporting member in spacedrelation to the one end for adjusting the angular position of the backrest portion relative to the base portion, holding means carried by thebody support contiguous to the base portion for receiving and holdingthe elongated tensional means at desired points along the length of theelongated tensional means to thereby hold the back rest portion inadjusted position relative to the base portion, and stop means forlimiting swinging movement of the back rest portion in a direction awayfrom the thigh rest portion when the body support is placed on thesupporting surface, the stop means being constructed and arranged tospace the one end of the back rest portion supporting member above aplane passing through the other end of the back rest supporting memberand the one end of the back rest portion.

6. An adjustable body support comprising a base portion adapted to beplaced on a supporting surface, a back rest portion having one endpivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movement relative tothe base portion, a back rest portion supporting member having one endpivotally joined to the back rest portion in spaced relation to the oneend of the back rest portion for swinging movement relative to the backrest portion, the back rest supporting member having another endconstructed and arranged to contact the supporting surface when the baseportion is placed on the supporting surface, a thigh rest portion havingone end pivotally joined to the base portion for swinging movementrelative to the base portion, a thigh rest portion supporting memberhaving one end pivotally joined to the thigh rest portion in spacedrelation to the one end of the thigh rest portion for swinging movementrelative'to the thigh rest portion, the thigh rest support member havinganother end constructed and arranged to contact the supporting surfacewhen the base portion is placed on the supporting surface, elongatedtensional means connected to the back rest supporting member in spacedrelation to the one end for adjusting the angular position of the backrest portion relative to the base portion, holding means carried by thebody support contiguous to the base portion for receiving and holdingthe elongated tensional means at desired points along the length of theelongated tensional means to thereby hold the back rest portion inadjusted position relative to the base portion, and stop means forlimiting swinging movement of the thigh rest portion in a direction awayfrom the back rest portion when the body support is placed on thesupporting surface, the stop means being constructed and arranged tospace the one end of the thigh rest portion supporting member above aplane passing through the other end of the thigh rest portion supportingmember and the one end of the thigh rest portion.

7. The combination of claim 2 in which the holding means is carried bythe base portion of the body support.

8. The combination of claim 2 in which the elongated flexible means hasone end anchored on the body support contiguous to one side of the baseportion, the connection between the back rest supporting member and theelongated flexible means is a sliding connection, and the holding meansis carried by the base portion contiguous to the other side of the baseportion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS947,383 Greaves Jan. 25, 1910 1,658,776 Nixon Feb. 7, 1928 FOREIGNPATENTS 192,751 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1923

